The actor was best known for playing Brad Majors in the original stage production of The Rocky Horror Show and later starred in TV sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.

Christopher's daughter Morgan Lloyd Malcolm tweeted: "Today the world lost a beautiful, brilliant man. My dad Christopher Malcolm left peacefully and with dignity. He will always be my hero. X"

After tributes from fans to his work on Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, she added: " Completely blown away by the love for dad in the Star Wars community. You lot are wonderful."

Christopher played Saffron's (Julia Sawalha) dad Justin in the BBC TV series Absolutely Fabulous and also appeared in Only Fools And Horses, Lovejoy, wartime drama We'll Meet Again and films Highlander and Labyrinth.

He also worked as a theatre producer on later revivals of The Rocky Horror Show including the Richard O'Brien version, A Slip Of The Tongue with John Malkovich, Single Spies written by Alan Bennett, and Footloose The Musical, according to Digital Spy.

Christopher is survived by his wife Judy Lloyd, his three children and his grandson.